Roger, along with the other Byrds members, was honored with an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991.
Daddy Roll 'Em
Roger McGuinn Lyrics
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They call me daddy roll'em, down, down, down
And when I roll 'em, I really roll 'em
They call me daddy roll'em, down
They call me daddy, daddy drive 'em
They call me daddy drive 'em, down, down, down
And when I drive 'em, I really drive 'em
They call me daddy drive 'em, down
Ten more miles and we're on hard ground
Julie, gal, can't you here me callin'
Do you know they call me daddy roll 'em down
They call me daddy, daddy roll'em
They call me daddy roll'em, down, down, down
And when I roll 'em, I really roll 'em
They call me daddy roll'em, down
They call me daddy, daddy drive 'em
They call me daddy drive 'em down, down, down
And when I drive 'em, I really drive 'em
They call me daddy drive 'em, down
Julie, gal, can't you here me callin' to you
And Julie, gal, don't you understand
So many miles that I can hardly count 'em now
I feel you pulling me by the hand
They call me daddy, daddy roll 'em down
They call me daddy roll'em, down, down, down
And when I roll 'em, I really roll 'em
They call me daddy roll'em, down
The song "Daddy Roll 'Em" by Roger McGuinn is a classic blues song that tells the story of a man who is known for his skills in rolling and driving a big rig truck. In this song, the singer, who is referred to as "daddy," is proud of his ability to handle his truck with great skill and determination. The song contains several repetitions of the chorus, which refers to his driving and rolling skills. With every repetition, the singer seems to become more confident and proud of his abilities.
The song takes on a slightly romantic tone in the second half as the singer addresses a woman named Julie, calling out her name and longing for her to hear his call. He speaks of a mountain that they will reach after driving for ten more miles, and of hard ground that they will soon be on. These lyrics suggest a journey of some sort, with the trucker pushing on towards his destination. The repetition of the "daddy roll 'em" chorus adds to the feeling of repetition and journey, indicating that the truck driver may have a long way to go.
In conclusion, "Daddy Roll 'Em" is a classic blues song that celebrates the skills of a truck driver who is known for his ability to roll and drive his rig with great skill and determination. The song suggests that this driver is on a journey, pushing himself and his truck to their limits to reach a destination. The romantic undertones of the song add an emotional element that contrasts with the hard-driving blues beat.
Line by Line Meaning
They call me daddy, daddy roll'em
People refer to me as 'daddy roll'em'
They call me daddy roll'em, down, down, down
I'm known as 'daddy roll'em' and they always say 'down' after my name
And when I roll 'em, I really roll 'em
I excel at rolling whatever it is that I have to roll
They call me daddy roll'em, down
They constantly remind me of my name and my capabilities
They call me daddy, daddy drive 'em
People call me 'daddy drive 'em' as well
They call me daddy drive 'em, down, down, down
I'm called 'daddy drive 'em' and they always say 'down' after my name
And when I drive 'em, I really drive 'em
I excel at driving whatever it is that I have to drive
They call me daddy drive 'em, down
They constantly remind me of my name and my capabilities
Ten more miles and we'll make that mountain, glory
We're only ten miles away from reaching our destination, which is a big accomplishment
Ten more miles and we're on hard ground
We're almost there, and we'll be on solid, safe ground soon
Julie, gal, can't you here me callin'
I'm calling out to Julie but she doesn't seem to hear me
Do you know they call me daddy roll 'em down
I want Julie to know about my nickname, 'daddy roll 'em down'
And Julie, gal, don't you understand
I'm frustrated that Julie doesn't seem to comprehend how close we are to our destination
So many miles that I can hardly count 'em now
We've come such a long way that it's hard for me to keep track of the miles we've traveled
I feel you pulling me by the hand
I feel Julie trying to encourage me and keep me going
Contributed by Eliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.